Natural Products Journal, The - Volume 13, Issue 8, 2023

Background: Ant-nest (Myrmecodia pendans) is an epiphytic plant that can prevent several diseases, including bacterial infections. Diarrhea is caused by Escherichia coli bacteria, while infections in the oral cavity can be caused by Enterococcus faecalis bacteria. Antibacterial activity is also influenced by conditions of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). Antioxidants are needed to inhibit the formation of excess ROS in the body. Superoxide anion radicals are included in the generation of ROS, which is produced by several enzymes, such as nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase or commonly known as Nox and xanthine oxidase (XO). Objectives: This study aimed to determine the potential of M. pendans as an antibacterial in vitro and in silico correlation in the formation of superoxide anion radicals. Methods: The compounds were obtained by column chromatography method, followed by a spectroscopic examination. In vitro test using the disc diffusion method and in silico test using AutoDock 4.2 program were conducted with positive control fosfomycin and allopurinol, tethered to MurA, Nox, and XO enzymes, and visualized using the Discovery Studio 2020. Results: Compound 1 (oleanolic acid) and compound 2 (pomolic acid) demonstrated antibacterial activity against E. coli but no activity against E. faecalis. Compound 3 (3-hydroxy-eupan-20,24-dien-26-oic acid) demonstrated no activity against these two bacteria. Based on the in silico results, compound 3 had the best binding energy affinity for all MurA, Nox, and XO enzymes of -6.89, -9.35, and -9.75 Kcal/mol, respectively. Similarly, compounds 1 and 2 had good binding energies for Nox protein of -9.29 Kcal/mol and -6.54 Kcal/mol and XO of -7.66 and -4.7 Kcal/mol, respectively. Conclusion: In vitro results against E. coli and E. faecalis bacteria showed inhibition by compounds 1 and 2 but not by compound 3. Meanwhile, in in silico analysis, all the compounds showed potential as an inhibitor of superoxide anion radicals generated by enzymes Nox and XO.

Moringa oleifera (MO), which belongs to the family Moringaceae, is a significant medicinal plant that is also one of the species farmed in the greatest quantity worldwide. All its components, including its leaves, roots, seeds, flowers, bark, stems, and green pods, have a wide range of medicinal properties and are exceptionally high in nutritional content. Some of the important medicinal properties of the plant include anticancer, antiasthmatic, antipyretic, antiepileptic, anti-inflammatory, antiulcerative, cholesterol- lowering, antioxidant, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, diuretic, CNS depressant, antibacterial, antifungal, anthelmintic, antibiotic, analgesic, antimalarial, antispasmodic, etc. Its nutritional value is attributed to the presence of proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, α-carotene, and various phenolic compounds. The purpose of this review is to present a synopsis of the ethnobotany, nutritive, and phytochemical profiles of various parts as well as the pharmacological properties of MO, with a particular emphasis on the several processes that are responsible for its multispectral activity. Additionally, it highlights studies on the safety profile, medication interactions, and relevant clinical trials. MO is used in pharmaceutics as an active extract in metallic nanoparticles and as an excipient in different pharmaceutical products. Other applications related to its water-purifying features, such as biodiesel, biogas, and biopesticide, are also discussed in the present article. Thus, the review provides necessary information proving that each part of MO has beneficial effects, and the plant can be studied extensively for many research aspects.

Garcinia livingstonei T. Anderson (African mangosteen) is a member of family Clusiaceae and is native to South Africa. It is distributed from Malaysia to the Philippines, Burma and India. The plant is used traditionally in the treatment of diarrhea. It contains various chemical constituents belonging to biflavonoids, benzophenones and xanthones. Garcinia livingstonei is reported to possess beneficial pharmacological activities as anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-viral and cytotoxicity. This review aims at summarizing the available literature on the botanical features, phytochemical, ethnomedicinal and pharmacological activities of Garcinia livingstonei.

Globally, liver diseases are a significant public health concern, necessitating the development of new chemicals that can aid in their treatment or prevention. As a result, scientists have been looking for natural and artificial compounds with hepatoprotective effects. The key objective of this manuscript is to provide details on several techniques and models for determining liver toxicity. The data has been collected for the manuscript from various e-sources such as Publons, Pubmed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. The development of novel pharmaceuticals involve several steps, beginning with identifying the pharmacological effects in cellular and animal models and concluding with demonstrating their safety and efficacy in humans. The scientific literature mentions several in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo experimental paradigms for evaluating hepatoprotective drugs. This review's main objective is to outline the key traits, advantages, and disadvantages of each model, as well as the most commonly used hepatotoxic substances (acetaminophen, t-BuOOH, d-galactosamine, ethanol, thioacetamide), biochemical parameters helpful in assessing liver damage in various models, and the most frequently used hepatotoxic substances overall.

Background: Mangiferin has been identified as one of the major active constituents of Aquilaria plants. It was reported to have several promising chemotherapeutic potentials. Our preliminary data suggested that Aquilaria plant water extracts inhibited several cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoenzymes in vitro. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the modulatory effects of mangiferin on six major drug metabolizing CYP enzymes including CYP2A6, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2D6, CYP3A4, and CYP3A5. Methods: The enzyme activities were measured using fluorescence-based assays and enzyme kinetic such as IC50 parameters and Ki values were calculated to evaluate inhibitory potencies and mechanisms. Moreover, for potent inhibitions, molecular docking studies were carried out to explore potential interactions of residues between mangiferin and CYP enzymes. Results: Our findings suggested that mangiferin could inhibit CYP2D6, CYP3A4, and CYP3A5 in vitro with IC50 values of 9.2, 8.7, and 4.3 μM, and Ki values of 3.8, 10.8, and 9.6 μM, in a non-competitive inhibition pattern. Molecular docking studies using AutoDock 4.2 identified potential residues contained in mangiferin that interacted with CYP2D6, CYP3A4, and CYP3A5, resulting in the observed inhibitory effects. Conclusion: Mangiferin should be used carefully, in particular, with conventional drugs metabolized mainly by CYP2D6, CYP3A4, and CYP3A5. Further in vivo studies are recommended to evaluate the clinical relevance of these inhibitions.

Since ancient times, fenugreek has been utilized as a dietary condiment as well as for its various therapeutic properties. The goal of this study is to look at the function of fenugreek in regulating obesity metabolism by providing a global picture of gene networks and pathways. The buildup of fat in adipose tissue and other internal organs is a hallmark of obesity, a long-term carbohydrate and lipid metabolic disorder. The fenugreek plant grows up to 60 cm tall, with golden-yellow rhomboidal seeds. Though the seeds of fenugreek are more well-known, the leaves and stems have also been suggested to have therapeutic properties. Various studies have shown that the secondary metabolites in the fenugreek plant are responsible for these properties. Several studies have shown that fenugreek has anti-obesity properties, making it a good plant candidate with a high prospect of being used to treat obesity. This review paper discusses the use of combinatorial analytic approaches to better understand the medicinal uses of fenugreek. Combinatorial analytical methods that use functional modulation and modelling may make it easier to come up with research strategies to fill in research gaps and find possible research niches.

Diabetes mellitus, together with its numerous consequences, is rapidly becoming a major health issue. Natural products are secondary metabolites found in plants that have a wide range of biological functions. The development of anti-diabetic medications derived from natural compounds, particularly those derived from plants having a documented folk-use history in the treatment of diabetes, is gaining traction. Many studies have shown the usefulness of natural flavonoids with hypoglycemic properties in the management of diabetic problems, along with their advantages. This paper describes the mechanisms of action of several natural flavonoids whose hypoglycemic effects have been confirmed. Comprehensive lifestyle treatments can help those at high risk of diabetes to avoid or delay the start of the disease, according to the results of randomized controlled trials. Terpenoids are a type of natural substance that have been identified as an anti-diabetic agent in various studies. Some of them are in various phases of preclinical and clinical testing to conclude whether they can be used as anti-diabetic drugs. These compounds can block the enzymes involved in insulin resistance, facilitate glucose metabolism, and positively affect plasma glucose and insulin levels. By blocking multiple pathways implicated in diabetes and its consequences, flavonoids and triterpenes can operate as potential agents in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy, as well as poor wound healing. However, there have been few attempts to investigate the biological effects of triterpenes and clinical research investigating their use in the treatment of diabetes. As a result, it is critical to pay close attention to these chemicals' therapeutic potential and to contribute fresh information to the scientific community. This review focuses on current advancements in flavonoids and triterpenes chemistry, derivatives, biological interventions, and therapeutic applications, with a focus on diabetes and related illnesses.

Erigeron floribundus (Kunth) Sch. Bip. is a reputed medicinal plant widespread all over the world and used traditionally in the treatment of several diseases and infections such as skin disorders, malaria, and gastrointestinal infections. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological activity, and toxicological profile of E. floribundus, and to direct further studies on aspects that have not yet been investigated in order to bring more scientific data for this plant and then give an opportunity for future exploitation in pharmaceutical industries. A meticulous and methodical analysis of the literature was conducted using various online scientific databases and all relevant abstracts and full text articles analyzed and included in the review. A wide range of traditional uses are cited in the literature with the plant mostly being used in African folk medicine for the treatment of malaria and skin diseases. Phytochemical investigations of E. floribundus have resulted in the isolation of several metabolites from different classes including acetylene-derivatives, phenolic compounds, triterpenoids, and steroids. Extracts and isolates from this species were reported to exhibit promising antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. However, the plant has also demonstrated some toxicological activities and should be used with caution. Reported chemical and pharmacological investigations of E. floribundus support the traditional uses of this plant which deserves further attention for antimicrobial drug discovery. The in-depth study should be emphasized the in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial assessment of its extracts and isolated compounds.

Trapa natans (Family: Trapacea) is an edible and ornate plant in warm, temperate regions of Asia and Europe. Extracts of different parts, as well as the whole herb itself, have traditionally been used to treat many ailments. Current review aims at documenting, finding research gaps, and critically appraising the contemporary information on T. natans based on botanical account, traditional use, reported bioactive constituents, toxicity, and therapeutic activities. We used several electronic databases, including scientific data from Pubmed, and Google scholar up to April 3, 2022, incorporating keywords- “Trapa natans” and “Traditional use of Trapa natans”. The result suggested: (a) The plant is used traditionally for treating burning sensation, dipsia, dyspepsia, haemorrhage, diarrhoea, dysentery, leprosy, weariness, inflammation, fractures, pharyngitis, urethrorrhea, bronchitis, and general debility. (b) The phytoconstituents found in the plant include cycloucalenol, ursolic acid, ellagic acid, chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, syringic acid, quercetin and 2β, 3α, 23-trihydroxy urs-12-en-28-oic acid. The other phytoconstituents were protein, carbohydrates, starch, flavonoids, and essential vitamins like riboflavin, thiamine, pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, nicotinic acid, vitamin A, vitamin C and D-amylase. (c) The plant was studied further for its pharmacological activity in antidiabetic properties, antimicrobial potency, anti-inflammatory activity, analgesic activity, immunomodulatory effect, antiulcer activity, anticancer property and nootropic activity. (d) Starch obtained from T. natans was also found to have good freeze-thaw properties, metal chelation properties and youghurt stability which could be used for pharmaceutical preparations. (e) The acute oral toxicity of hydroalcoholic, ethanolic and methanolic extracts of T. natans was reported to be safe up to a dose of 2000 mg/Kg. The present review suggests that T. natans needs to be explored for evaluation of mechanistic study of the reported activities, preclinical investigations, and evaluation of clinical studies on humans for its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic actions as well as the development of dose-dependent formulations and routes of administration.